Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Melodic ideas inspired by Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s song “Rock Me” – from gospel, R&B to rock ‘n’ roll. Better listen to her. She was so far ahead – if she’d be living today, she’d be sending us more messages from the future.

Corresponding to Charlie Christian’s jazz, and B.B. King’s ‘blues box’: a number of hip “gospel licks” can be found via this diagram, based on Tharpe’s melodic ideas: